Andras Földes

Journalist, Index.hu and Art Magazine, Budapest

Milena Jesenska Visiting Fellow(October – December 2013)

Project:

Nationalist Tendencies in Contemporary Art and Culture of Central and Eastern Europe

How and why did nationalism and the imaginary construction of history emerge in Eastern Europe and the cultural life of Hungary? How do main cultural actors play into the hands of right-wing nationalist politicians in countries like Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland? How do nationalist attitudes influence the Hungarian art scene and cultural institutions? How did the “cultural war” between the nationalistic retrograde power and the independent cultural scene start in Eastern European countries – particularly in Hungary, where dramatic changes have been implemented in the last few years? And how can non-governmental cultural organizations try to stay independent from the state?